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ph: 604-688-2398 fx: 604-688-1963
CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001 John Brandt Co-owner, Summit Brooke Construction, Age: 34 Nathan Rooke Co-owner, Summit Brooke Construction, Age: 34 Longtime friends John Brandt and Nathan Rooke began their construction business shortly after university. “We were sitting around one day and we said, ‘Well here’s an opportunity for business, do we want to make this work?’ So we never really so much decided on construction; it was more just we wanted to get into business,” explained Brandt. Neither Brandt nor Rooke believe they’re successful even though their company, Summit Brooke Construction, was ranked one of 2008’s fastest growing companies in Canada by PROFIT magazine. In only a decade, the Abbotsford-based company has grown to include 27 employees and annual revenue in excess of $20 million. It counts companies like Starbucks, McDonald’s, Scotiabank and Shoppers Drug Mart among its host of clients. “The values that I grew up with as a child … are the values my dad uses to conduct his business on and that’s what we base our business life on as well,” said Rooke. His father, Ken Rooke, is a minority shareholder in Summit, and both Brandt and the younger Rooke consider him a mentor. “He’s worked very closely with us over the years, so just having a guy like that around who’s very involved in sort of the strategic planning side of the company but also on sort of the larger business and life principles [was important],” said Brandt. Both Brandt and Rooke are family men with children and count volunteer experience in their community as an important part of their daily lives. Brandt is a manager and coach for minor hockey in Abbotsford, while Rooke donates to charities such as Love 146 and the International Justice Mission. For the most part, Brandt and Rooke’s partnership has proved successful, and although they handle different parts of the company, Rooke admits that on business trips, they still share a hotel room. “We’re wired differently, we have the same goals but we take different approaches to get there.” • Birthplace: Abbotsford Where do you live now: Abbotsford B.C. Highest level of education: Business degree from BCIT Car or chosen mode of transport: Chevy pickup truck and a Yamaha FZ1 motorbike Currently reading: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer Last CD bought or music downloaded: Viva la Vida by Coldplay Favourite movie: Braveheart Favourite local restaurant: Carderos Profession you would most like to try: Either a rock star, a pro athlete or a greeter at Wal-Mart Mentor: Ken Rooke Toughest business or professional decision: I always try to do what is right for the business and that makes the “tough” decisions easier What’s left to do: We want to hit the $100 million mark within the next six to eight years Birthplace: Abbotsford Where do you live now: Abbotsford Highest level of education: Bachelor of intercultural studies Car or chosen mode of transport: Honda Pilot Currently reading: Good News About Injustice by Gary A. Haugen Last CD bought or music downloaded: m-seven Favourite movie: Matrix, Amazing Grace Favourite local restaurant: Blue Stone Profession you would most like to try: Community development Mentor: Lindsay Brooks and Ken Rooke Toughest business or personal decision: Choosing a career between commercial construction or community development work What’s left to do: To increase my involvement in the fight against injustice and sponsor developing communities for self-sufficiency and independence |
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